Guns N' Roses Timeline

1960

Matt Sorum, the second drummer for Guns N' Roses, is born in Long Beach, California.

1962

Axl Rose, singer for Guns N' Roses, is born in Lafayette, Indiana. His birth name is William Bailey.

1962

Izzy Stradlin, guitarist for Guns N' Roses, is born in Lafayette, Indiana. His birth name is Jeff Isbell.

1963

Darren "Dizzy" Reed, keyboardist for Guns N' Roses, is born in Hinsdale, Illinois.

1964

Michael "Duff" McKagan, bassist for Guns N' Roses, is born in Seattle, Washington.

1965

Steven Adler, the original drummer for Guns N' Roses, is born in Cleveland, Ohio. His birth name is Michael Coletti.

1965

Slash, guitarist for Guns N' Roses, is born in Stoke-on-Trent, England. His birth name is Saul Hudson.

1985

The recently formed Guns N' Roses embarks on an ill-fated tour of the Pacific Northwest.

1986

Guns N' Roses debuts with a live EP, Live ?!*@ Like Suicide, issued in a limited pressing of 10,000 copies on its own Suicide label.

1986

Guns N' Roses signs to Geffen Records.

1987

Appetite for Destruction, the debut album by Gun N' Roses, is released on Geffen Records.

1988

A year after its release, Appetite for Destruction, tops the album chart for the first of five nonconsecutive weeks.

1988

Guns N' Roses perform during the Monsters of Rock Festival at Britain's Castle Donington for a crowd of 92,000 fans. Two fans die during the moshing that occurs when they perform "Its So Easy."

1988

"Sweet Child O' Mine" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.

1988

"Welcome to the Jungle" enters the singles chart, where it will peak at #5.

1988

GN'R Lies is issued. It consists of four acoustic songs and the group's previously issued four-song live EP.

1989

"Paradise City" enters the singles chart, where it will peak at #4.

1989

Guns N' Roses open the first of several shows with the Rolling Stones at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

1990

Axl Rose marries Erin Everly. He files for divorce four weeks later.

1990

Drummer Steven Adler is dismissed from Guns N' Roses for addiction problems. A month later, the Cult's Matt Sorum is selected as his replacement.

1991

Axl Rose triggers a riot at St. Louis's Riverboat Amphitheatre resulting in injuries, arrests and damage to the new facility.

1991

Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion are released simultaneously. Four days later, the single, "Don't Cry" will make its debut on the chart, where it will peak at #10.

1991

Use Your Illusion II tops the album chart for the first two weeks. The companion album Use Your Illusion I adjoins it at #2 both weeks. It's the first time since 1974 that the same act claimed the top two spots.